Glass-supporting metallic frame



Oct. 10, 1939.

J. WILLIAMS eLAss-surron'rms METALLIC FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1938 ock 710%%% 4 TTOANEYS Oct. 10, 1939. J. WILLIAMS GLASS-SHPEORTING IETALLIC FRAME Fil ed Aug. 5, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 10,1939. I J. WILLIAMS GLASS SUPPORTING IETALLIC FRAME Filed Aug. 5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOI? ,k/QOA' '//l'am S Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 5, 1938, SeriaI No. 223,336

In Great Britain August 11, 1937 10 Claims.

This invention relates to glass supporting metallic frames, for example those employed in roof-lights and other windows and similar structures, and has for its object to provide for the satisfactory joining of adjacent parts of" the frame, for example along the ridge or corners of a roof-light or at intermediate points in the sides of a roof-light or at any other places where two adjacent parts of the metallic frame are to be connected. f' I To this end a glass-supporting metallic frame according to the present invention includes two separate Web members having their longitudinal axes parallel to one another, a spacing member (hereinafter called a spacer). which lies between and is engaged by one pair of adjacent edges of the web members so as to locate these edges with respect to one another, each web member having a lateral projection extending away "from' the spacing member to form a support for the'edge of a sheet of glass which is pressed into'engagement therewith, and means extendingbetween the two webs for connecting them rigidly together in a desired angular relationship.

Preferably a capping piece is provided which extends between the edges of the webs remote from the spacer to enclose the'space between the webs while, if'desired, the space betweenthe webs may be filled or partially filled with some plastic material.

The means for rigidly connecting together the two webs may vary but in one form particularly suitable where the webs liein planes at an angle to one another so that the edges which engage the spacer lie nearer together than thee'dges remote from the spacer, the means for rigidly 'connecting together the two webs comprise two or more connecting plates extending between the webs and having their opposite end portions connected, for example, by bolts respectively to the two webs. In such a construction, the capping piece may comprise a resilient strip the edges of which are bent to form channel's engaging beads or ribs'formed on the outerfaces of the edges of the webs remote from the spacer'so thatthe capping piece is held in position by its own resilience.

In an alternative construction particularly suitable where the webs lie in planes approximately parallel to one another, the means for rigidly connecting the, two webs may comprise a series of bolts or the like serving to draw the webs, towards one another and a capping piece at least a. part of which lies and is gripped between the edges of the webs remote from the spacer, this capping piece.

capping piece thusv acting as, a distance piece or stop against which these edges are drawn by the bolts. In such a construction shallow grooves arec'onveniently provided on the inner faces of the edge portions of the webs remote from the spacer and are engaged by corresponding outwardly extending ribs or beads on the part of the capping piecewhich lies between the webs.

Preferably the edge portions of the webs remote from the spacer are formed both with a bead on their outer faces and a groove on their inner faces so that they can be employed in conjunction with a suitable spacer and connecting means'with capping pieces of either of the types referred to above. Thus, the same form of webs can be employed in either of the two ways referred to above by employing an appropriate form of spacer, appropriate means for rigidly connecting the webs together and an appropriate form of In any case, the inner face of the inner portion of each web which lies adjacent to the spacer is preferably provided with a groove, these grooves being adapted to receive lateral projections or beads on the spacer so as to assist in maintaining the spacer in position and facilitate the action of the spacer in locating the edges of the webs which engage it.

It will be seen that with the present invention 'two parts-of a' glass-supporting metallic frame can be'conneoted together whether the sheets of glass supported by those two parts lie in the same plane or indifferent planes. Thus the parts of a -glass-supporting metallic frame, for example for a roof-light or other window, can be made separ'ately and readily assembled in position. Further, these parts may be formed as units which can be assembled and joined together in the manner according to the present invention to form roof-lights, windows or the like of different sizes 40 "orshapes.

Preferably each of the web members is in the general form of glazing bars of the kind forming the subject of the present applicants United Statesof America Patent No. 2,114,791 but with only one main and one subsidiary abutment, the

glass beingconnected thereto by a clamping bar as described in the specification of that patent and one construction embodying various arrangements according to the invention and employing web members of this 'general type is illustrated with certain modifications by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a general view of a roof-light or lantern light employing glass-supporting metallic frames according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a section on the lines 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section on the lines 3--3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the parts which abut at the end of the ridge of the roof-light,

Figure 7 is a cross-section indicating how the roof-light may be supported, and

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are cross-sections corresponding respectively to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of slightly modified arrangements according to the invention.

In the roof-light illustrated in Figure 1, the ridge embodies one construction according to the invention as shown in Figure 2 comprising two web members A, A constituting respectively parts of the two glass-supporting frames which lie in different planes and constitute the sides of the roof-light. It will thus be seen that the longitudinal axes of the two webs A, A are parallel to one another. Between the inner or lower edges of these two webs is a spacing member B formed with lower lateral projections B against which the edges of the webs A, A bear and upper lateral projections B which extend into longitudinal grooves A formed in the inner faces of the lower edge portions of the webs A, A As will be seen, the faces of the spacing member .8 with which the inner faces of the lower edge portions of the web members A, A engage are inclined to one another at an angle equal to the angle between the two glass-supporting frames constituting the side faces of the roof-light so that the planes in which the two web members A, A lie are at a similar angle to one another. Extending outwards from the lower edge of each web member A, A is a flange provided with an upwardly extending rib or tongue A on which the glass is adapted to rest and, at a point more remote from the web, with a further rib or tongue A which constitutes a protective flange and extends towards but does not engage the glass.

Interposed between and rigidly connected to the two web members A, A is a series of connecting plates C the end portions C of which lie in planes angularly displaced from one another by the same angle as the webs and are connected to the webs by bolts indicated at C Thus, the webs A, A are rigidly connected together in the desired angular relationship. The upper or outer edge of each web is provided on its outer face with a head or rib A which is somewhat undercut at its lower face, as shown, and corresponds in general form to one side of the bead or rib in the construction shown in the drawings of United States of America Patent No. 2,114,791 while a shallow longitudinal groove A is provided on the inner face of the upper edge portion of each web. Extending between the outer edge portions of the webs so as to close in the space between these webs is a capping piece D in the form of a resilient strip the edges of which are bent, as shown, to form channels in which the beads lie so that this capping strip is maintained in position by its resilience.

Each sheet of glass E is adapted to be held in place by a clamping bar E of the kind employed in the constructions described in the specification of United States of America Patent No. 2,114,791, that is to say a clamping bar which is of generally L-shaped crosssection and of such resilience as to permit limited flexing thereof during insertion and arranged with one limb sloping from the undercut part of the abutment A away from the web and towards the surface of the glass, while the other or glass-engaging limb E extends inwards towards the web and is curved or bent so that itsinner end projects beyond the edge of the glass and through the plane of the adjacent face thereof whereby the part of the clamping bar adjacent to the junction of the limbs is caused to bear on the glass with a force which is maintained by and is a function of the tension in the glass-engaging limb E As shown in Figure 3, a construction similar to that described above may be employed for the joint between one side and one end face of the roof-light except that instead of the spacing member B a similar spacing member 13 is provided having its faces with which the inner faces of the lower edge portions of the webs A, A engage inclined to one another at an appropriately smaller angle than the corresponding faces of the spacing member B while similarly, instead of the connecting plates C, connecting plates C are provided having end portions which lie at an appropriate angle to one another, a correspondingly narrower resilient capping piece D also being employed.

Where two adjacent parts of a glass-supporting frame lie in the same plane, an arrangement such as that shown in Figure 4 may be employed. In this construction it will be seen that the two webs A. A lie parallel to one another and their lower edge portions engage opposite parallel faces of a spacing member B while, instead of a resilient capping piece such as D or D the upper edge portions of the webs are separated by a capping piece G of generally T-shaped crosssection having ribs G which engage the shallow grooves A In this construction also the two webs A, A are merely bolted together by a series of bolts 0 so that the two edges of the webs firmly grip respectively the spacing member B and the capping piece G.

The complete glass-supporting frame for the roof-light is conveniently built up in a series of sections which are then connected together as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 and each section may include an intermediate glazing bar H constructed and arranged for example in the manner described in the specification of United States of America Patent No. 2,114,791 as shown in Figure 5. Thus, the various sections can be built up and delivered to the side on which the roof-light is to be erected and there assembled in the manner indicated in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The whole glass-supporting frame may be carried by longitudinal girder members J, for example as indicated in Figure 6, these girder members being, for example, welded as shown at J to the web members where they extend across them.

As shown in Figure 6, where the ends of web members A, A meet one another, for example at the end of the ridges of the roof-light, they are conveniently cut at an appropriate angle so that they fit on to one another correctly; The ends of the capping pieces D, D may also be appropriately shaped so as to fit into one another and thus enclose the space where the ends of the various web members meet.

In the modifications illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10 the general constructions are similar to those shown respectively in Figures 2, 3 and 4 except that each web member A, A instead of having flanges A, A each provided with two ribs or tongues A A the web members have flanges A each provided with an upturned end A constituting an abutment to support a sheet of glass. Further in the constructions shown in Figures 8 and 9, instead of a resilient capping piece such as D or D a capping piece D is held in place by screws D engaging screwthreaded bores in the connecting plates C C which to this end are of the modified form shown.

In some cases the spaces between web mem-- bers which are connected to one another may be filled or partially filled by some suitable plastic material.

It is to be understood that the web members employed in constructions according to the present invention are not limited to forms which constitute glazing bars of the kind forming the subject of United States of America Patent No. 2,114,791 but may be of other type and that the form of the spacing members and the means for connecting the webs and for supporting the glass from the webs and other details of construction may be modified considerably without departing from this invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A glass-supporting metallic frame including in combination two separate web members having their longitudinal axes parallel to one another, a spacing member which lies between and is engaged by one pair of adjacent edges of the web members and locates these edges with respect to one another, a lateral projection on each web member extending away from the spacing member to form a support for the edge of an adjacent sheet of glass, means for pressing the sheet of glass into engagement with the said support and means extending between the two webs for connecting them rigidly together in a desired angular relationship.

2. A glass-supporting metallic frame including in combination two separate web members having their longitudinal axes parallel to one another, a spacing member which lies between and is engaged by one pair of adjacent edges of the web members and locates these edges with respect to one another, a lateral projection on each web member extending away from the spacing member to form a support for the edge of an adjacent sheet of glass, means for pressing the sheet of glass into engagement with the said support, means extending between the two webs for connecting them rigidly together in a desire-d angular relationship, and a capping piece extending between the edges of the webs remote from the spacing member to enclose the space between the webs.

3. A glass-supporting metallic frame including in combination two separate Web members having their longitudinal axes parallel to one another, a spacing member which lies between and is engaged by one pair of adjacent edges of the web members and locates these edges with respect to one another, a lateral projection on each web member extending away from the spacing member to form a support for the edge of an adjacent sheet of glass, means for pressing the sheet of glass into engagement with the said support, and a plurality of connecting plates extending between the two web members and having their opposite end portions rigidly secured respectively to the two web members to connect them rigidly together in'a desired angular relationship.

4. A glass-supporting metallic frame including in combination two separate web members having their longitudinal axes parallel to one another, a spacing member which lies between and is engaged by one pair of adjacent edges of the web members and locates these edges with respect to one another, a lateral projection on each web member extending away from the spacing member to form a support for the edge of an adjacent sheet of glass, means for pressing the sheet of glass into engagement with the said support, means extending between the two webs for connecting them rigidly together in a desired angular relationship, beads or ribs formed on the outer faces of the edges of the web members remote from the spacing member, and a resilient capping piece extending between these beads and bent to form channels engaging the beads.

5. A glass-supporting metallic frame including in combination two separate web members having their longitudinal axes parallel to one another, a first spacing member which lies between and is engaged by one pair of adjacent edges of the web members and locates these edges with respect to one another, a lateral projection on each web member extending away from the first spacing member to form a support for theedge of an adjacent sheet of glass, means for pressing the sheet of glass into engagement with the said support, a combined capping piece and second spacing member extending between the edges of the webs remote from the first spacing member, and bolts extending through and drawing together the webs so as to cause them to grip the first spacing member and the capping piece between them.

6. A glass-supporting metallic frame including in combination two separate web members having their longitudinal axes parallel to one another, a spacing member which lies between and is engaged by one pair of adjacent edges of the web members and locates these edges with respect to one another, a lateral projection on each web member extending away from the spacing member to form a support for the edge of an adjacent sheet of glass, means for pressing the sheet of glass into engagement with the said support, a capping piece extending between the edges of the webs remote from the spacing member, and bolts extending through and drawing together the webs so as to cause them to grip the spacing member and the capping piece between them, longitudinally extending shallow grooves being formed on the inner faces of the edge portions of the webs which engage the capping piece and being engaged by rib-like beads on the adjacent parts of the capping piece.

7. A glass-supporting metallic frame including in combination two separate web members having their longitudinal axes parallel to one another, a spacing member which lies between and is engaged by one pair of adjacent edges of the web members and locates these edges with respect to one another, a longitudinally extending groove being provided in the part of each web member adjacent to the spacing member and being engaged by a rib-like projection on the spacing member, a lateral projection on each web member extending away from the spacing member to form a support for the edge of an adjacent sheet of glass, means for pressing the sheet of glass into engagement with the said support and means extending between the two webs for connecting them rigidly together in a desired angular relationship.

8. A glass-supporting metallic frame including in combination two separate web members having their longitudinal axes parallel to one another, a spacing member which lies between and is engaged by one pair of adjacent edges of the web members and locates these edges with respect to one another, a longitudinally extending groove being provided in the part of each web member adjacent to the spacing member and being engaged by a rib-like projection on the spacing member, a lateral projection on each web member extending away from the spacing member to form a support for the edge of an adjacent sheet of glass, means for pressing the sheet of glass into engagement with the said support, means extending between the two webs for connecting them rigidly together in a desired angular relationship, and a capping piece extending between the edges of the webs remote from the spacing member to enclose the space between the webs.

9. A glass-supporting metallic frame including in combination the elements set forth in claim 1 in which the surfaces of the spacing member which are engaged by the webs are inclined to one another at the same angle as that at which the webs are inclined toone another.

10. A glass-supporting metallic frame including in combination two separate web members having their longitudinal axes parallel to one another, a spacing member which lies and is gripped between one pair of adjacent edges of the Web member to locate these edges with respect to one another, a lateral projection on each Web member extending away from the spacing member to form a support for the edge of an adjacent sheet of glass, means for pressing the sheet of glass into engagement with the said support, and means lying in and extending across the space between the two web members for drawing said one pair of adjacent edges into and maintaining them in engagement with the spacing member and connecting the web members rigidly together in a desired angular relationship.

JACK WILLIAMS. 

